How to a Plumb a Basement Toilet
Installing a toilet in a finished or partially finished basement can greatly increase the livability of the area. An additional toilet in the basement area can also increase property value and make it more attractive to potential buyers. This project will be slightly more complicated than a standard toilet installation, but can be managed with the use of some specialized appliances. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tee joint
- Hack saw
- Water line
- Water valve
- Drain line
- Drain line Tee joint
- Flex hose
- Upflush device/toilet
Instructions
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Turn off the water supply for the home and locate a cold water line as near to the toilet installation point as possible. Using the hack saw, cut into the water line. After carefully cleaning the pipe ends, install the tee joint into the water line. This will be the water supply for the toilet. Beginning at the tee joint, install a water line to the toilet location. Where the water line terminates install a water valve. A flex hose will be attached to the valve, then to the toilet. Turn the water supply back on.
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Locate the nearest sewer/septic drain line. Make certain all appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers are turned off and no one is taking a shower or is in the toilet. Cut into the drain line, being careful to make the cut as straight and neat as possible. Install the drain tee into the drain line. Install a drain pipe from the tee joint to the toilet location. This should be the shortest and most direct route with minimal elbows. The waste water will be pumped from the toilet to the sewer line. The shorter the distance and the fewer twists and turns involved the less strain there will be on the pump.
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Install an upflush toilet or other sewage pumping system. Both units work primarily the same way. An upflush toilet come complete with a toilet, special water reserve and pump. A sewage pumping system is little more than a flat tank on which a standard toilet can be mounted. A pump on one end of the tank removes the waste water by way of the drain line. The sewage system can be used as a pedestal system, or mounted at floor level. Both will connect to the water supply line and drain line in much the same manner. You should make certain all connections and fittings are secure and water tight.
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Connect the pump to a power supply. These units will require a 110 volt power source. Depending on the model you have installed it may be required to hard wire the pump, or it may simply plug into a wall outlet. This outlet must be a GFCI device which will offer additional protection from electrical fire and electric shock.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on codes in your area it may be necessary to have a licensed electrician complete any wiring on this project.
If completing the wiring yourself, make certain all power is turned off to the area before beginning work.
